Androusa, Messini, Messenia,Peloponnese
Castle of Androusa
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photo by G.Kostopoulos
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photo by Jennifer Jones
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towers of east wall (by Jennifer Jones)
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old photo (sent by K.Paganis)
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NW tower inside the village (by K.Paganis)
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photo Andy Sawyer
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photo by Jennifer Jones
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the SE keep (photo by Jennifer Jones)
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photo by Jennifer Jones
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photo by Jennifer Jones
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inside the gate (G.Kostopoulos)
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photo by Giorgos Kostopoulos
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photo by Giorgos Kostopoulos
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one of the arcs with ceramic decoration
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Braille guide panel! (G. Kostopoulos)
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from site panel (G.Kostopoulos)
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from site panel (G.Kostopoulos)
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from site panel (G.Kostopoulos)
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NW isolated tower (Google Street)
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photo by D. Xenoulis (Oct 2020)
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photo by D. Xenoulis (Oct 2020)
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photo by D. Xenoulis (Oct 2020)
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photo by D. Xenoulis (Oct 2020)
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THE END
| Location: |
| Androusa, Messinia, SW Peloponnese |
| Region > Prefecture: |  |
| Peloponnese Messenia | |
| Municipality > Town: | |
| City of Messini • Androusa | |
| Altitude: | |
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Elevation ≈ 155 m (Relative Height≈80 m) |
| Time of Construction | Origin | |
| after 1250 | FRANKISH  |
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| Castle Type | Condition | |
| Castle |
Average
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A Frankish castle in the village of Androusa in Messenia 21km from Kalamata.
The highlight in the history of the castle is that it was the seat of the notorious mercenaries of the Navarrese Company who were the last Frankish rulers of the Principality of Achaea. In those times, around the end of the 14th century, it was one of the most important castles in Peloponnese.
History
The castle was built some time after 1250 by the ruler of the Principality of Achaea Guillaume II de Villehardouin.
In 1381 became the seat of the Navarrese Company, a company of mercenaries, mostly from Navarre and Gascony, who fought in Greece during the late 14th century and early 15th century, in the twilight of Frankish power in the dwindling remnant of the Latin Empire
The company was hired to help James of Baux to claim the throne of Achaea. They were not very successful, but eventually they became the de facto rulers of the Pricipality of Achaea and Androusa was their seat.
In 1417, the Paleologi family, the Byzantine rulers of the Despotate of Mystras took the castle. In 1462 the Turks captured Androusa.
| First entry in Kastrologos: | October 2012 | Last addition of photo/video: | January 2024 |
Sources
- Pictures sent by Konstantinos Paganis
- Andrew Sawyer’s site 'castles of Greece'- Androusa
- photos by Ms.Jennifer Jones
- photos and access info by Mr.Georgios Kostopoulos
- photos Dionysios Xenoulis (October 2020)
- Video by the user G Traveller Κάστρο της Ανδρούσας | Castle of Androusa (January 2024)
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| Access |
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| Approach to the monument: |
| Entering into the village from the south (starting from Messini) we turned right to ta paved road which soon becomes a dirt road but we are already in front of the castle. |
| Entrance: |
| Free entrance. |
| Timeline |
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